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Prime Minister Modi goes on to show that his foreign policy is driven by the need and will to make India into a formidable force to reckon with in the 21st century. He is keen to project the country as a strong Asian power – one that can take on China with ease in the field of business, opines Navodita, our Associate Editor, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths.
The recent visit to Davos for World Economic Forum by Prime Minister Modi goes on to show that his foreign policy is driven by the need and will to make India into a formidable force to reckon with in the 21st century. He is keen to project the country as a strong Asian power – one that can take on China with ease in the field of business.
The start of the year saw two major invites to foreign delegates like Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 10 ASEAN leaders as chief guests for Republic Day also seen as a way to strengthen the Asia-Pacific club. The CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee told the media, “India is at the global centre stage. Expectations are huge. The world is appreciative of its efforts and wants to engage. In February, the Canadian state visit will be crucial and a huge business, the political delegation will be visiting followed by the French head of state.” Indian Ocean partnership will top French President’s trip.
Dealing with China will continue to be a major foreign policy challenge. The competitiveness tension is constantly on the rise between the two Asian nations for influence and power. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said in December that China ‘disapproves’ of spheres of influence in international affairs. In the same month in Sri Lanka, a 99-year-old lease of a strategic port was granted to a Chinese company with direct links to the Communist regime. In Nepal, there has been growing number of supporters for China instead of India. A month before in November Maldives became the 2nd South Asian country after Pakistan to ratify a free trade agreement with China. Positioning himself as a global statesman, India has been projected as a soft power that is democratic, multicultural in spirit and willing to play the role of a global player. He seems to be taking the vision of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ (One World, One Family) and its view forward.
Modi’s fifty-minute speech at Davos touched upon cybersecurity, the digital and big data revolutions, artificial intelligence,
He said data is a huge asset but the ‘flow of global data is creating the biggest opportunities and the greatest challenges. He also believed one has to combat terrorism. He definitely tried to woo the investors on projecting India as developing an investor-friendly climate. PM’s Davos address was appreciated by ASEAN countries because it had resonance with each one of
However, it may be said that Modiji was trying to hard sell India with his speech and rhetoric. Had India had a perfect GDP, with its economy sound and management unquestioned, Modi would not have gone such a spree of public-relations blitzkrieg. Modi’s government is still under-confident about its economic progress and the effect of GST and demonetization which may be called a ‘self-inflicted slowdown’.
While brand India was projected in the most positive light, Davos was a good platform to invite the investors which PM could have kept for a later stage at executive meetings or conferences. Modi was appreciated for his skills and expertise with which he tried to woo the investors- the business community especially came out in full support of his speech. He does seem in for a more determined financial policy ahead.
©Navodita Pande
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